RSPB Haweswater: Tree Nursery

To combat the climate crisis we need landscapes which are locking up more carbon than they are releasing! In terrestrial landscapes tree’s can play a big part in this as they take CO2 from the atmosphere and lock it up in both their tissues and the soil. With the help of a DEFRA Green Recovery Challenge Grant, RSPB Haweswater is building a new tree and wildflower nursery from an old sheep barn, who’s space is no longer needed as the landscape transitions to a less intensive farming model, with reduced numbers of livestock. Much of the lake district landscape is sparsely populated by mature plants, as grazers prefer younger, more easily accessible seedlings. But the staff and volunteers at RSPB Haweswater are harvesting seeds and berries from their immediate landscape to grow locally adapted stock in a nursery safe from grazers. Providing trees & wildflowers to support on-site land restoration projects whilst also providing local partners with the diverse locally adapted stock they need.